Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-06-08
A correspondent IN Mondays STAR calls atten-

A correspondent In Mondays STAR calls atten-
ton 70 and criticfses change OF Biographies in
the public schools. The new geography Is roughly
handled inaccurate and Anticipated its special
feature OF local information and faulty in other
respects The people OF the District OF course, de-
sire that a textbook claiming to give special con-
sideration TO local geography shall picture the
Washington OF the present, and not draw its ma
terial from ancient history. But without weigh
ing In detail the comparative merits Of the old and
the substituted textbooks, public attention
may be drawn to the circumstances OF the change
IL appears that the new Biographies were substi-
tuted without notice. statement of reasons or dis
cussion, and In the midst of the school year.
These facts tend to illustrate the evil effects to
be feared from abolishing the management OF the
schools by trustees, which were predicted by The
STAR when the Commissioners took that STEP
Frequent changes in textbooks, not improving
the educational course, but unsettling pupils,
source OF expense TO parents, and profitable qt is
hoped and believed) only to drummers and
tobbers, have always been q danger to be
resisted In the management OF the public
schools Under the OLD system a board OF
citizens, selected from among those who
would pay for the proposed changes, II made,
held open meetings and debated and often
wrangled over propositions OF this kind. Such
meetings were sometimes criticised as debating
societies or denounced as discreditable specimens
OF bear garden. But jobs cannot stand the strong
light OF discussion and exposure. The defects Of
proposed text book and the inadvisability Of
change were learned by the public before intead Of
after the new works were substituted, and the
expense imposed. The Commissioners are him
dered, by the duties and responsibilities of caring
for the interests OF two hundred thousand
people, from attending to all the compn-
Gated details OF the vast public school
system, and they are therefore much more
liable TO be Imposed upon, especially as their ac-
tion Is or may be In private and they do not have
the advantage Of public discussion OF proposals
OF the kind in advance Of decision. An ''adv1-
sorry" board OF citizens Is good enough far as 1t
goes II does not interfere where any power is to
be exercised, and 1t serves as a scapegoat for
drudgery and the annoying consequences OF omiS-
sions or plumbers. The city should have, however,
In accordance with the almost universal rule In
this country, board OF trustees, an independ-
ent body, TO choose teachers select school sites,
establish text books, and attend to school
matters generally. 1t should be a representative
body with considerable power and corresponding
responsibility. The number OF trustees proposed
In the bin before the last Congress is large 20
suggest that the board thus constituted may be
clumsy, but valuable suggestions for legislation
can doubtless be obtained from that bill. THE
STAR thinks that the Commissioners were unwise
take from the District its vestige representa-
ton. a citizens school board In order to add to
their own extraordinary and arbitrary powers,
and will be glad to see the schools of the city
again entrusted TO the management Of the citi-
zenS.
From time to time somebody throws out In print
hint that the War Department knows more about
Captain Howgate's present abiding place than 1t
cares to make public and some Of these innuendo-
mongers go so far as TO say that they could put
their hands On the captain themselves in a few
hours time II 1t were desirable All this is very
fnfe vor1ld no had
by years Of periodical repetition. II so many per-
sons know where Captain Howgate is, why does
not one Of them produce him? II this Is not expe-
dent, why does not one at least tell where he may
be found by anybody who happens to be In search
Of him? Every man who deliberately aids In the
concealment Of fugitive from justice becomes in
. measure, party to that fugft1ve'S onense
Either let Howgate'S whereabouts be exposed and
the War Department given a chance to put itself
fairly on record, or else let the persons who talk
so much and say so little cease their insinuations
Of double-dealng In high places
The refusal OF the Canadian customs authorities
70 allow an American fisherman to buy ice for hts
vessel at Halifax does not augur well for the
peaceful policy which some OF the Dominion
statesmen have professed q desire to pursue
toward the United States until the two govern
ments could reach a satisfactory understanding
on the fisheries question. Possibly our northern
u
Presidents patience, knowing that he Is reluctant
70 enforce the retaliation law, unless positive
necessity drives him TO ii. There is no amuse-
ment more fascinating to souls OF a certain cast
than playing With dangerous things OF safe dis
lance. II Is 70 be hoped that II they are bound to
make mischief, the Canadians Will do enough of
II 10 force Congress, at its next session. as mere
matter OF selfrespect, either TO order the submis-
sion OF the whole controversy to arbitration or to
put the United States navy on business footing
Anew days ago an animated contest was held
near Sligo, Nd, between horsemen and bicyclers
In which the horses came out slightly ahead A
stin more Interesting and novel match was that
carried out last Monday evening between some
pedestrians and b. and o. train, between Wash.
fngton and Silver Spring, seven miles Owing To
the late heavy rains the walking was not very
good, and for the first four miles the contest was
very close, but on the down grade OF the turnpike.
beyond Brishtwood, the pedestrians rapidly gained
on the train and reached Silver Spring fourteen
minutes ahead.
Red Shirt the Indian chief, does not consider
the British parliament very spirited legislative
BODY. Laws are passed, he says, much quicker In
the United States than in England. Our abortgt.
nal brother has probably drawn his comparative
estimate from the closing hours OF a Congress-
wnen MI Randall and Mr.. Holman have succeeded
In holding back all legislation, good and bad alike
III the last moment and heaps OF bills bad In es
sence or crude in form are rushed through at rail-
fRh and haI~ rI1,A n-a